The Las Vegas Raiders have reached a crossroads with their star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
To Crosby’s credit, he has said all of the right things so far this offseason. He seems genuinely excited to work with new head coach Pete Carroll and remain a cornerstone of the only NFL franchise he has ever played for. However, Crosby has also not been shy about expressing his frustrations with the team’s continued lack of stability and success.
Simply put, the presence of Carroll will not matter if the Raiders do not start moving in the right direction soon.
With a player currently facing a similar situation in the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett requesting a trade, the pressure to succeed has never been more prevalent. NFL insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport discussed the futures of Garrett, Crosby and some of the NFL’s other elite pass rushers. For Crosby, the mystery is whether he will remain a Raider.
“While the hiring of Super Bowl winner Pete Carroll was a step toward stability, the Raiders still don’t have a franchise quarterback and have a ton of work to do to field a competitive roster,” Pelissero and Rapoport wrote. “Trading Crosby for a bounty of picks would be one way to expedite that process, and Crosby might welcome the change, particularly if it’s to a playoff team where he knows people (e.g. Green Bay). Crosby has two years and about $44 million remaining on the contract extension he signed in 2022.”
Should Crosby stay or should he go?
The idea of trading Crosby seems unpalatable at first glance from the Raiders’ perspective, but the decision rest on where Carroll and general manager John Spytek ultimately see the team’s direction.
The Raiders have done their part to keep Crosby happy, retaining coaches like defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and defensive line coach Rob Leonard. With plenty of resources available in free agency and the draft, Carroll and Spytek will be able to make serious improvements to the roster in a quick amount of time.
However, it is reasonable to assume Crosby is not interested in yet another rebuilding effort. If the upcoming season reveals further issues with the team, moving on from Crosby with one more year left on his deal would allow the Raiders to expedite their rebuild.
2025 will carry massive implications on Crosby’s future with the Raiders, and another rough season could mean his long-term future is away from Las Vegas.
Maxx Crosby describes the current feeling in Raiders headquarters
Insider provides interesting template for Pete Carroll era of the Raiders
